Follow the Rhythm
A systematic observation by Max Taylor
Problem statement:
Will birds be able to associate music with food? I.e. If I play music next to a feeder for a while, then take away the feeder and play the music somewhere else, will the birds follow it? I came up with this question thinking of Pavlov's conditioned reflex experiment in which he trained his dogs to associate a bell with food. I am trying to see if birds will be able to do the same. I choose the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" because it is a very repetitive and uses the same tune, this makes it easier for the birds to associate it with music.
Hypothesis
I think that, given enough time, birds could be conditioned to fly to the feeder when they hear music.
Independent Variable(s)
My variables are kind of confusing. I suppose the variable is the food because I take it away later in the experiment and see if the birds still visit the feeder.
Dependent Variable
Whether birds fly towards the music in search of food.
Materials needed
Bird feeder made of bottle (picture coming soon)
1 large bag Birdseed
Measuring cup (for birdseed)
Clock or other reliable time measurer
CD player
Disc (Henry McClintock, "Big Rock Candy Mountain")
Patience
Procedure
Purchase necessary materials
Fill feeder with birdseed. Scatter remainder around the area.
Hang feeder outside screened window
Leave window open
Play music through screen so it is right next to the feeder (BRCM). From 7:45am to 7:45pm.
Repeat this for two days
Bring feeder inside and stop playing music for 1 day
Repeat steps 3-6
On the final day. Play music in the usual spot but keep the feeder inside.
Watch for birds from 7:45am-8:45am, 11:00am-12:00pm, and 6:00pm-7:00pm
From each time frame, record the number of birds that fly near the window in search of food.
Determine weather there are enough birds to be able to say that they came because they thought that music meant food.
Record data and present
Results
Inconclusive, no birds visited the feeder.
Conclusion
Though my results were inconclusive, other experiments have showed that birds have a high intelligence for conditioned reflex, such is written in this article:
A systematic observation by Max Taylor
Problem statement:
Will birds be able to associate music with food? I.e. If I play music next to a feeder for a while, then take away the feeder and play the music somewhere else, will the birds follow it? I came up with this question thinking of Pavlov's conditioned reflex experiment in which he trained his dogs to associate a bell with food. I am trying to see if birds will be able to do the same. I choose the song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" because it is a very repetitive and uses the same tune, this makes it easier for the birds to associate it with music.
Hypothesis
I think that, given enough time, birds could be conditioned to fly to the feeder when they hear music.
Independent Variable(s)
My variables are kind of confusing. I suppose the variable is the food because I take it away later in the experiment and see if the birds still visit the feeder.
Dependent Variable
Whether birds fly towards the music in search of food.
Materials needed
Procedure
- Purchase necessary materials
- Fill feeder with birdseed. Scatter remainder around the area.
- Hang feeder outside screened window
- Leave window open
- Play music through screen so it is right next to the feeder (BRCM). From 7:45am to 7:45pm.
- Repeat this for two days
- Bring feeder inside and stop playing music for 1 day
- Repeat steps 3-6
- On the final day. Play music in the usual spot but keep the feeder inside.
- Watch for birds from 7:45am-8:45am, 11:00am-12:00pm, and 6:00pm-7:00pm
- From each time frame, record the number of birds that fly near the window in search of food.
- Determine weather there are enough birds to be able to say that they came because they thought that music meant food.
- Record data and present
ResultsInconclusive, no birds visited the feeder.
Conclusion
Though my results were inconclusive, other experiments have showed that birds have a high intelligence for conditioned reflex, such is written in this article: